Mobile phone SMS are increasingly used to promote positive health behaviour with an aim to improve health outcomes. However, robust data on the efficacy of SMS on health seeking behaviour and patient outcomes in resource-limited settings is sparse. The SMSaude study aims to assess whether regular SMS-reminders improve retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programmes in Mozambique.

Intervention participants only will be sent text messages to their phones. The content of text messages will have a maximum of 160 characters and not mention HIV and will state the dates for the forthcoming consultations, visits to the pharmacy, lab results, time to take medication and reminders for patients who miss appointments.

Active Comparator: PMTCT no SMS reminders

control group

Behavioral: SMS reminders

Intervention participants only will be sent text messages to their phones. The content of text messages will have a maximum of 160 characters and not mention HIV and will state the dates for the forthcoming consultations, visits to the pharmacy, lab results, time to take medication and reminders for patients who miss appointments.

Experimental: SMS reminders to PMTCT cohort

experimental group

Behavioral: SMS reminders

Intervention participants only will be sent text messages to their phones. The content of text messages will have a maximum of 160 characters and not mention HIV and will state the dates for the forthcoming consultations, visits to the pharmacy, lab results, time to take medication and reminders for patients who miss appointments.

Experimental: SMS reminders to ART cohort

experimental group

Behavioral: SMS reminders

Intervention participants only will be sent text messages to their phones. The content of text messages will have a maximum of 160 characters and not mention HIV and will state the dates for the forthcoming consultations, visits to the pharmacy, lab results, time to take medication and reminders for patients who miss appointments.

Detailed Description:

SMSaúde is a multisite randomised clinical trial of HIV-infected adults on ART and HIV-infected pregnant women in six clinics in Maputo Province, Mozambique. Eligibility criteria include: currently residing in the province; no plans to move for 12+ months; have own cell-phone; literate; 8-28 weeks pregnant (PMTCT cohort); on first line ART and on ART for >15 days (ART cohort). Patients were interviewed for eligibility, and then randomized (1:1). SMS reminders are sent to the intervention group using software that picks up the patient's next appointment from the electronic patient database. Primary outcomes tested were improved retention in ART care and uptake of all PMTCT services.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

On ART for >15 days (for ART only)

Live in province and plan to stay for 12+ months

Have cell phone

Literate

For PMTCT (in addition to above criteria):

- pregnant between 8-28 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01910493